Fastener and device housing using the same

ABSTRACT

A device housing includes a main body and a hook portion. The main body defines a connecting hole. The hook portion is formed on an end of the main body. A width of the connecting hole gradually decreases from a first end to a second end, along a direction towards the hook portion. When the molten material flowing through the connecting hole cools, a plastic engaging portion is formed in the connecting hole to securely engage the fastener.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to four co-pending U.S. patent applications, application serial nos. [to be determined], with Attorney Docket No. US28910, US28911 and US28913, and all entitled “DEVICE HOUSING,” application serial no. [to be determined], with Attorney Docket No. US28914, and entitled “METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING DEVICE HOUSING.” The co-pending applications have the same assignee as the present application.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to fasteners and, more particularly, to a fastener for a device housing of electronic devices.

2. Description of Related Art

With developments in technology, electronic devices such as mobile phones are not only required to perform many functions, but also provide an appearance appealing to the user.

A frequently used device housing for a mobile phone includes a plastic frame and a plurality of fasteners engaged with the frame. The fasteners are generally metal pieces, and connected to the plastic frame by injection molding or screws.

However, if the device housing is formed by injection molding, combined strength between the plastic frame and the fasteners is minimal because the fasteners are substantially rectangular pieces. The fasteners are easily pulled out of the plastic frame with use. If the fasteners are fixed to the plastic frame by screws, combined strength is improved, but assembly becomes less efficient.

Therefore, a fastener and a device housing using the fastener overcoming the described limitations is desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a fastener.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a fastener.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of a fastener.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of a fastener.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a fifth embodiment of a fastener.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a sixth embodiment of a fastener.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a seventh embodiment of a device housing.

FIG. 8 is an exploded, isometric view of the device housing of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partial, side view of the device housing of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-section of the device housing of FIG. 7 taken along line X-X.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a fastener 30 includes a main body 31 and a hook portion 33 extending from an end of the main body 31. The main body 31 defines a connecting hole 35 in an end adjacent to the hook portion 33. The connecting hole 35 is configured to allow molten material to flow therethrough during injection molding. In the illustrated embodiment, the main body 31 is substantially rectangular. The fastener 30 is made of metal. The connecting hole 35 is an isosceles trapezoid hole, and a width of the connecting hole 35 decreases from a first end to a second end, along a direction towards the hook portion 33. Two flat engaging surfaces 351 opposite to each other are formed on a sidewall defining the connecting hole 35.

Referring to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of a fastener 40 differs from the fastener 30 of the first embodiment. The fastener 40 includes a main body 41 and a hook portion 43 extending from an end of the main body 41. The main body 41 defines a connecting hole 45 in an end adjacent to the hook portion 33, and an assembly hole 46 in another end away from the hook portion 43. Two flat engaging surfaces 451 opposite to each other are formed on a sidewall defining the connecting hole 45. In the illustrated embodiment, the engaging surfaces 451 are angled.

Referring to FIG. 3, a third embodiment of a fastener 50 differs from the fastener 30 of the first embodiment in that a main body 51 defines two connecting holes 55 arranged side by side in an end adjacent to a hook portion 53. Two flat engaging surfaces 551 opposite to each other are formed on a sidewall defining each connecting hole 55. It should be pointed out that the fastener 50 may define more than two connecting holes 55.

Referring to FIG. 4, a fourth embodiment of a fastener 60 differs from the fastener 30 of the first embodiment only in that a connecting hole 65 of the fastener 60 is hemispherical, with a width decreasing from a first end to the second end, towards a hook portion 63. Two curved engaging surfaces 651 opposite to each other are formed on a sidewall defining the connecting hole 65.

Referring to FIG. 5, a fifth embodiment of a fastener 70 differs from the fastener 40 of the second embodiment only in that a connecting hole 75 of the fastener 70 is substantially rectangular. Two rough engaging surfaces 751 opposite to each other are formed on a sidewall defining the connecting hole 75. Each rough engaging surface 751 is composed of a plurality of slight sloping surfaces.

Referring to FIG. 6, a sixth embodiment of a fastener 80 differs from the fastener 40 of the second embodiment, except that a connecting hole 85 of the fastener 80 is parallelogrammic. An engaging surface 851 is formed on a sidewall defining the connecting hole 85. In the illustrated embodiment, the engaging surfaces 851 is angled.

Referring to FIGS. 7 through 10, a seventh embodiment of a device housing 90 is integrally formed by a plastic frame 91 and a plurality of fasteners 30, 40 and 50. The plastic frame 91 includes a side frame 911 and an annular positioning portion 912 formed on an inner surface of the side frame 911. A plurality of engaging portions 913, corresponding to the connecting holes 35, 45 and 55 of the fasteners 30, 40 and 50, are formed on a bottom end of the side frame 911. In the illustrated embodiment, the side frame 911 is substantially rectangular. The plastic frame 91 is comprised of nylon and fiberglass. A cross-section of the engaging portions 913 parallel to the fasteners 30, 40 and 50 is substantially an isosceles trapezoid. In alternative embodiments, the device housing 90 can be integrally formed by a plastic frame 91 and with more than one of the fasteners 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80.

The device housing 90 can be integrally formed by positioning the fasteners 30, 40 and 50 in an injection mold (not shown) and injecting molten material towards the fasteners 30, 40 and 50, such that the molten material flows through and fills in the connecting holes 35, 45 and 55 of the fasteners 30, 40 and 50 to form the plastic frame 91 when the molten material cools.

After the device housing 90 is formed, the hook portions 33, 43 and 53 of the fasteners 30, 40 and 50 are hooked on the plastic frame 91, thus preventing the fasteners 30, 40 and 50 from disengaging from the plastic frame 91. Moreover, the plastic frame 91 has engaging portions 913 with a cross-section of an isosceles trapezoid. Thus, when the engaging portions 913 are engaged in the connecting holes 35, 45 and 55 of the fasteners 30, 40 and 50, the engaging portions 913 resist the engaging surface 351, 451 and 551. When fasteners 30, 40 and 50 are pulled, a force is generated between the engaging portions 913 and the engaging surface 351, 451 and 551 to prevent the fasteners 30, 40 and 50 from disengaging from the plastic frame 91. Therefore, a combined strength of the fasteners 30, 40 and 50 and the plastic frame 91 is further improved.

It should be pointed out that the connecting holes 35, 45 and 55 of the fasteners 30, 40 and 50 may be other shapes, such as a triangle, but a width of the connecting holes 35, 45 and 55 should still decrease along a direction towards the hook portions 33, 43 and 53. In addition, since the fastener 60 has the curved engaging surfaces 651, and the fastener 70 has the rough engaging surfaces 751, the plastic frame 91 can form the engaging portion 913 resisting or engaging with the engaging surfaces 651, 751, so as to enhance a combined strength of the fasteners 60, 70 and the plastic frame 91.

It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages. 

1. A fastener, comprising: a main body defining at least one connecting hole; and a hook portion formed on the main body; wherein a width of the at least one connecting hole gradually decreases from a first end to a second end, along a direction towards the hook portion; a plastic engaging portion is formed to securely engage the fastener when molten material introduced through the at least one connecting hole during injection molding cools.
 2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the at least one connecting hole is an isosceles trapezoid hole.
 3. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the connecting hole is a semi-elliptical hole.
 4. The fastener of claim 1, wherein a rough surface is formed on a sidewall defining the at least one connecting hole.
 5. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the fastener is made of metal.
 6. A fastener, comprising: a main body defining at least one connecting hole; and a hook portion formed on the main body; wherein at least one sloping engaging surface is formed on a sidewall of the at least one connecting hole; a plastic engaging portion is engaged in the at least one connecting hole of the fastener and combined with the at least one engaging surface; a force is generated between the plastic engaging portion and the at least one engaging surface to prevent the fastener from separating from the plastic engaging portion.
 7. The fastener of claim 6, wherein the at least one sloping engaging surface is two sloping engaging surfaces opposite to each other, formed on a sidewall of the at least one connecting hole.
 8. The fastener of claim 7, wherein each connecting hole is an isosceles trapezoid hole.
 9. The fastener of claim 7, wherein each connecting hole is semi-elliptical.
 10. The fastener of claim 6, wherein each connecting hole is parallelogrammic; the at least one sloping engaging surface is formed on a sidewall defining the at least one connecting hole.
 11. The fastener of claim 6, wherein the at least one engaging surface is a rough surface.
 12. The fastener of claim 6, wherein the fastener is made of metal.
 13. A device housing, comprising: a plastic frame; and at least one fastener integrally formed with the plastic frame, the at least one fastener comprising: a main body defining at least one connecting hole; and a hook portion formed on an end of the main body; wherein a width of the at least one connecting hole gradually decreases from a first end to a second end, along a direction towards the hook portion; a plastic engaging portion is formed in the at least one connecting hole to securely engage the fastener when the molten material flowing through the at least one connecting hole cools.
 14. The device housing of claim 13, wherein the connecting hole is an isosceles trapezoid hole.
 15. The device housing of claim 13, wherein the connecting hole is semi-elliptical.
 16. The device housing of claim 13, wherein the fastener is made of metal.
 17. The device housing of claim 13, wherein a rough surface is formed on a sidewall defining the at least one connecting hole. 